Latest releases
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55 releases
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Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says he will vote against the Education Minister's amendments to the Holiday Meal Payments Bill at Further Consideration Stage and back the Education Committee's amendments, so payments are never below a school dinner's cost.
Social security and welfare Education Issue: Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill Further Consideration Stage amendments Original release: Carroll: Reject Givan’s Delay Tactics. Make Sure No Child Goes Hungry (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 12 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason says the School Uniforms Bill’s latest Assembly stage provides an opportunity to guarantee every pupil the automatic right to wear trousers, urging school uniform policy to be brought into the 21st century.
Education Disability and equality Issue: School Uniforms Bill passes Assembly stage Original release: No girl should have to ask permission to wear trousers to school – Mason (opens in a new tab)
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Cuireann Sheehan fáilte roimh an dul chun cinn ar Bhille um Ghaelscolaíocht
Sinn Féin MLA for West Belfast Sheehan welcomes the Irish Medium Education workforce bill passing its second stage in the Assembly. He says it will require the Department of Education to plan for the sector's staffing needs, and accuses the DUP and others of trying to obstruct progress.
Education Issue: Irish Medium Education workforce bill second stage in Assembly Original release: Cuireann Sheehan fáilte roimh an dul chun cinn ar Bhille um Ghaelscolaíocht (opens in a new tab)
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Baker welcomes Holiday Hunger Bill progressing to next stage
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker welcomes the Holiday Hunger Bill clearing second stage in the Assembly and moving to committee, saying it will help 90,000 disadvantaged children and families during holidays. He criticises the Education Minister for not backing the bill and pledges cross-party work to…
Social security and welfare Issue: Holiday Hunger Bill passes second stage in Assembly Original release: Baker welcomes Holiday Hunger Bill progressing to next stage (opens in a new tab)
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Bill to support Irish-medium education passes first stage – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan says his Irish Medium Education Bill has passed its first stage in the Assembly. He says Irish-medium schools struggle to recruit teachers, SEN and early years staff, and calls for the Department of Education to plan the Irish-medium workforce with evidence, targets and…
Education Issue: Irish Medium Education Bill passes first stage in Assembly Original release: Bill to support Irish-medium education passes first stage – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll Passes Motion on Damp and Mould - Hits Out at Shameless Pay Hike
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll says his motion on damp and mould in rented housing has passed at Stormont and calls on the Communities Minister to bring in tougher legislation requiring landlords to investigate and fix such problems within set deadlines. He cites NHS costs of cold, damp…
Housing Economy and employment Issue: Stormont motion on damp and mould in rented housing Original release: Carroll Passes Motion on Damp and Mould - Hits Out at Shameless Pay Hike (opens in a new tab)
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Ní Chuilín convenes meeting to tackle homelessness in Belfast
Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín says she has hosted a multi-agency meeting at Belfast City Hall with homeless providers, the Housing Executive, council and elected representatives. She says the talks covered backing existing services and improving winter emergency protocol communication, with more…
Housing Local government Issue: Belfast City Hall multi-agency homelessness meeting January 2026 Original release: Ní Chuilín convenes meeting to tackle homelessness in Belfast (opens in a new tab)
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Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school
Sinn Féin MLA Cathy Mason welcomes cross-party support on the Education Committee for a proposal giving girls a clear right to wear trousers in school. She says the DUP Education Minister missed a chance to modernise school uniform policy and pledges to work with others to deliver it.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee proposal on girls' right to wear trousers in school Original release: Mason welcomes support to allow girls the right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school
Alliance MLA Michelle Guy welcomes the Education Committee's decision to take forward a single-issue bill allowing girls to choose trousers as part of school uniform. She says the Education Minister could have made the change through his uniform guidance and urges him to update the guidelines…
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee proposal on girls' right to wear trousers in school Original release: Alliance backs decision to take forward legislation to give girls right to wear trousers in school (opens in a new tab)
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Gildernew to meet groups working to tackle poverty as Sinn Féin brings cost of living motion to the Assembly
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says he will meet community groups and charities supporting families before his party's Assembly cost of living motion on Monday. The motion asks the Communities Minister for concrete plans to help hard-pressed households, and the party calls his draft poverty plan weak.
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Assembly cost of living motion on poverty and Communities Minister's proposals Original release: Gildernew to meet groups working to tackle poverty as Sinn Féin brings cost of living motion to the Assembly (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll’s Motion of No Confidence Gains Further Momentum
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says his no confidence motion against Education Minister Paul Givan has gathered the 30 signatures needed, with support from Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance, and will be debated at Stormont on 10 November. He calls for Givan to resign over his stance on Israel.
Education Issue: Vote of no confidence in Minister Givan Original release: Carroll’s Motion of No Confidence Gains Further Momentum (opens in a new tab)
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Givan welcomes final stage of School Uniforms Bill
Education Minister Paul Givan welcomes the School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill passing its Final Stage, saying it will take effect for the 2026/2027 school year. He says schools must now follow Departmental guidelines and the Department can enforce them.
Education Issue: School Uniforms (Guidelines and Allowances) Bill passes Final Stage Original release: Givan welcomes final stage of School Uniforms Bill (opens in a new tab)
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This Is only the Beginning: Education Minister updates the Assembly…
The DUP says Education Minister Paul Givan hailed early progress on TransformED, his education reform strategy launched in March 2025, in an Assembly update listing initiatives such as a £31million Teacher Professional Learning Fund, a CPD Academy and curriculum reviews, with further reforms…
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Sinn Féin will continue working to cut cost of school uniforms – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan welcomes progress on the Assembly's school uniform affordability bill after the Education Committee finished scrutiny. He calls for an end to single-supplier contracts, limits on branded items and enforceable guidance to stop families being overcharged.
Education Issue: Assembly Education Committee completes scrutiny of school uniform affordability bill Original release: Sinn Féin will continue working to cut cost of school uniforms – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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People's Housing Bill - Consultation Report
People Before Profit publishes a consultation report on its People's Housing Bill, which Gerry Carroll MLA is bringing to the Assembly. It outlines public support for rent control and tackling empty homes, summarises feedback, and suggests refinements.
Housing Issue: People's Housing Bill public consultation report Original release: People's Housing Bill - Consultation Report (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP stands against Welfare Bill
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP backs two reasoned amendments, signed with Colum Eastwood, to block the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its Commons Second Reading. She warns the welfare reforms will push hundreds of thousands into poverty, hitting Northern Ireland hardest…
Social security and welfare Disability and equality Issue: Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill Commons Second Reading Original release: SDLP stands against Welfare Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Guy to lead cross-party Assembly group on online safety for children
Alliance Education Spokesperson Michelle Guy announces the creation of a cross‑party Assembly group, in partnership with the NSPCC, to improve online safety for children and young people in Northern Ireland, with a launch event planned for September and a call for input from families, experts and‑‑‑
Education Issue: Cross‑party Assembly group on online safety for children Original release: Guy to lead cross-party Assembly group on online safety for children (opens in a new tab)
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Education Minister attends Education World Forum in London
The DUP reports that Education Minister Paul Givan attended the Education World Forum in London, where he gave a keynote on Northern Ireland's approach to building an inclusive education system and met counterparts and the City of London Academies Trust.
Education Original release: Education Minister attends Education World Forum in London (opens in a new tab)
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DUP leads Assembly debate on illegal immigration
DUP MLAs led an Assembly debate on illegal immigration, with Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley proposing it. DUP MLA Deborah Erskine says asylum accommodation costs have reached £400 million and calls on the Infrastructure Minister to revisit the Strategic Planning Policy Statement on HMO…
Immigration Housing Issue: Assembly debate on illegal immigration impact in Northern Ireland Original release: DUP leads Assembly debate on illegal immigration (opens in a new tab)
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Every young person deserves same opportunity to thrive, says Donnelly, welcoming passing of Caleb's Causing motion
Alliance Larne Lough Councillor Maeve Donnelly welcomes the council's passing of her motion backing Caleb's Cause and Alma White, which calls for better post-19 SEN provision. It urges the Economy, Health and Education Ministers to consider legislation for post-19 Education Health and Care plans.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Larne Borough Council motion on post-19 SEN provision and Caleb's Cause Original release: Every young person deserves same opportunity to thrive, says Donnelly, welcoming passing of Caleb's Causing motion (opens in a new tab)